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Rabbi Israel Drazin[/caption]
Dr. Israel Drazin served for 31 years in the US military and attained the rank of Brigadier General. He has a PhD in Judaic Studies and a Masters Degree in psychology and a Masters Degree in Jewish Literature. He is an attorney and a rabbi.
He developed the legal strategy that saved the military chaplaincies when its constitutionality was attacked in court, and received the Legion of Merit for his service.
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He was the scholar who recognized that the Aramaic translation Targum Onkelos took hundreds of items from the Tannaitic Midrashim, which were edited around 400 CE; therefore, the Targum must have been composed after that date, a period much later than had been widely accepted.
He is the author of more than 50 books, including a series of five volumes on the Aramaic translation of the Hebrew Bible, and a series of books on the twelfth century philosopher Moses Maimonides, a history of the legal case he handled, and dozens of books on the Bible.
His works, available on Amazon, include:
*A Rational Approach to Judaism and Torah Commentary
*Can’t Start Passover Without the Bread (Children’s Literature) ***
*For God and Country: The History of a Constitutional Challenge to the Army Chaplaincy
*Maimonides and the Biblical Prophets
*Maimonides: Reason Above All
*Maimonides: The Exceptional Mind
*Mysteries of Judaism (Maimonides and Rational)
*Mysteries of Judaism II: How the Rabbis and Others Changed Judaism
*Nachmanides: An Unusual Thinker
*Onkelos on the Torah Understanding the Bible Text (5 Volume Set)**
*Onkelos on the Torah (Book 1: Genesis) **
*Onkelos on the Torah (Book 2: Exodus) **
*Onkelos on the Torah (Book 3: Leviticus) **
*Onkelos on the Torah (Book 4: Numbers) **
*Onkelos on the Torah (Book 5: Deuteronomy) **
*Sailing on Moti’s Ark on Sukkoth (Children’s Literature) ***
*Stories that Teach the Truth: Ecclesiastes, Tobit, Susanna, and Other Stories.
*Studies in Onkelos (Hebrew edition)
*Targum Onkelos to Exodus [2]: An English Translation of the Text with Analysis and Commentary
*Targum Onkelos to Leviticus [3]: An English Translation of the Text with Analysis and Commentary
*Targum Onkelos to Numbers [4]: An English Translation of the Text with Analysis and Commentary
Targum Onkelos to Deuteronomy [5]: An English Translation of the Text with Analysis and Commentary
*The Authentic King Solomon
*The Tragedies of King David
*Understanding Onkelos
*Unusual Bible Interpretations: Five Books of Moses (Maimonides and Rational)
*Unusual Bible Interpretations: Hosea
*Unusual Bible Interpretations: Jonah and Amos
*Unusual Bible Interpretations: Joshua
*Unusual Bible Interpretations: Judges
*Unusual Bible Interpretations: Ruth, Esther, Judith
*What’s Beyond the Biblical Text? **
*Who Really Was the Biblical David?
*Who Was the Biblical Prophet Samuel?
** Co-Authored with Stanley Wagner
** Co-Authored with Leba Lieder
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shaped not only religious life for centuries but also the very contours of English literature and everyday language, poetry, prose, and literature of all kinds. Yet, it contains flaws—many of them. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
The King James Bible and Its Flaws Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsThe ancient rabbis recognized the importance of ethics. They said such things as Derekherets kadmah l’Torah, “Proper behavior preceded the Torah itself.” [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Jewish Ethics Improve Upon Halakha Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Jospe’s central thesis is that interreligious pluralism is not only a moral, rational, and political necessity but also a philosophical and theological imperative rooted in Judaism’s own sources. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
‘Accepting and Excepting’: Readable and Profound Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
His 326-page book has 14 chapters that discuss a wide range of essential subjects, including creation, the dignity of life, humanity imitating God, tikkun olam (repairing and perfecting the world), the struggle of life against death, the lesson of the Holocaust, and much more. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
‘The Triumph of Life’ is a Theology of Judaism Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
His family hid his Jewish roots from him until he turned 11. In 1931, when antisemitism was rampant in Hungary and Jewish lives were threatened, Krasznahorkai’s grandfather changed their family name from the Jewish-sounding name Korin to the now Hungarian-sounding one. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Nobel Prize Winning Author László Krasznahorkai Learned of Jewish Father at Age 11 Read More »
Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Staff and Bylined Contributors
Setsuzo Kotsuji, a Japanese scholar, university professor, and Japanese government official, … helped save thousands of Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi and Japanese persecution. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
‘Kotsuji’s Gift’ Tells of a Japanese Man’s Fight to Save Jewish Lives Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, International, Israel, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors
The book clarifies that “living wondrously,” with feelings of joy, is not about escaping hardship. It is about engaging with life more fully, even in times of pain. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
How to Find Joy in Life Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Her book not only informs readers about the Bible, the history and mindset of the times, but also about the effects of all of this then and today. Most of the 286 pages are composed with the primary text in the top half, with an abundance of intriguing, informative details in the notes below. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Book Tells of Works and Lives of Latter Day Biblical Prophets Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Israel, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
The two centuries were marked by Judean hatred toward Rome due to its conquest and control of Judea in 63 BCE. There were three pivotal violent rebellions against Rome: the Great Revolt of 66 to 74 CE, which resulted, among other calamities, in the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE; the Diaspora Revolt of 116 CE; and the Bar Kokhba Revolt of 132 to 136 CE. There were also many more minor battles before and sandwiched within these three. In each struggle between Judeans and Rome, thousands of Judeans fought alongside the Romans against their brothers. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
A Jewish War that Lasted Two Centuries Read More »
Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Israel, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Staff and Bylined ContributorsJews are not the only humans who recognize the importance of remembering the past. Many ancient wise people recognized the role of history as a guide, its ability to illuminate, the responsibility to remember, and the consequences of forgetting history. Cecero advised us, “To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born will keep you always as a child.” [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Ki Tavo: The Value of Remembering History Read More »
Israel, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USAMany lies are told to avoid punishment, embarrassment, or criticism. Students may lie about finishing an assignment, or employees may hide a mistake to protect their job or reputation. These lies are rooted in fear of consequences. They are harmful and immoral. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Why Do People Lie? Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Opinion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsDeuteronomy 22:6-7 states that if you chance upon a bird’s nest containing young ones or eggs with the mother sitting near the chicks or on the eggs, you must not take the mother with the young. Instead, consider the mother’s feelings. Let the mother go and then take the young, “that you may prolong your days.” [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Two Commands in the Torah that Prolong Life Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsThe “Documentary Hypothesis” originated when Jean Astruc (1684–1766) claimed he could identify the sources of the Bible by examining its use of divine names. His approach was later expanded by Julius Wellhausen (1844-1918), who identified four primary sources (J, E, D, and P) that he believed were combined to form the Pentateuch, also known as the Five Books of Moses. He based his theory in part on the consistent use of the names Elohim and Y-h-v-h in what he considered four writings by four different authors or groups. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
What the Documentary Thesis for Studying the Torah Misconstrues Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined ContributorsThe fifth weekly biblical portion in Deuteronomy is Shoftim, “Judges.” The rabbis who were descendants of the ancient Pharisees saw this portion supporting the views of the Pharisees and not those of the Sadducees. The ancient Sadducees ceased to exist after the second temple was destroyed in 70 CE, and were later followed by Karaites. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
The History of Rabbinical Laws Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors